The Steps to Success

In order to master a concept, students must first master the skills that build up to the concept. A student will find it nearly impossible to learn algebra without a strong foundation in basic math; likewise, children who lack phonics and comprehension skills will most likely have trouble with reading. Unfortunately, in many cases, students are allowed to pass through the school year with only a minimal understanding of basic skills. This creates a snowball effect — leading to frustration for students, who cannot understand what they are learning; teachers, who are faced with students who lack the foundation needed for higher-level work; and parents, who are caught in the middle. With this dilemma in mind, Kumon, an after-school math and reading program, has helped children around the world develop their skills step by step in order to achieve success at their grade level and beyond. By creating a solid foundation, “Kumon helps children find the confidence and independence that they need to succeed in school and in life,” says Jyoti Kelkar, instructor at the Brookfield Kumon Center.

In 1954, Toru Kumon, a high school math teacher in Japan, began developing materials to help his second-grade son, who was struggling in math. As an educator, Kumon realized that a strong foundation in the basics was necessary for success in higher-level math. Kumon also believed that learning occurs most efficiently when the level of material corresponds to the students’ level of ability; when the rate of progress is determined by the student, not by the teacher; and when the material is organized into a naturally coherent, logical progression. With these principles in mind, he created a series of carefully sequenced materials for his son to complete after school. Through daily practice and a commitment to mastering each concept, his son improved his math skills and gained the ability to solve math problems well beyond his level. When Kumon’s neighbors heard about his son’s success, they began asking him to work with their children. To meet this sudden demand, the first Kumon Center was opened in Kumon’s home in 1956. For two years, he refined and formalized this new approach to education, and in 1958, the Kumon Institute of Education was established with the objective of helping students excel in math and gain a love for learning.

Kumon expanded rapidly through the 1960s, and in 1974, the first North American Kumon Center opened in New York. The reading program was established in North America in 1991.Nowcelebratingits 50th year in operation, Kumon is the largest after-school education company in the world, with offices in 45 countries. In Connecticut, nearly 2,000students are currently benefiting from the program.

One of the unique aspects of the Kumon system is that it was developed by a parent for his child. In this respect, a sense of caring for the student is inherent in Kumon’s method, which was developed with the belief that all children are capable of greatness.“It’s our job as educators not to stuff knowledge into children as if they were merely empty boxes, but to encourage each child to want to learn, to enjoy learning and be capable of studying whatever he or she may need to or wish to in the future,” Kumon said.The founder believed that every child has the potential to learn far beyond his or her parents’ expectations. The instructional method helps children not only acquire more knowledge, but also the ability to learn on their own. While the curriculum focuses on math and reading, the Kumon method helps children increase confidence, self motivation and the desire to learn more on their own regardless of the subject.

The Kumon curriculum is designed to help children gradually develop the fundamental math and reading skills needed to master high school level math and reading comprehension. The curriculum is comprised of more than 20 clearly defined skill levels for each subject and hundreds of short assignments that span materials covered from preschool to the college level. With each assignment, a child advances in small, manageable increments.

Typically, students visit a Kumon Center once or twice a week for approximately 15-30 minutes per subject and complete daily assignments at home on the other days of the week. An instructor evaluates each child’s progress weekly to ensure growth and that academic goals are being met. The following factors make up the Kumon method:

• Success from the Start — At Kumon, students begin at a comfortable starting point, which is determined by a placement test. Since children absorb knowledge at different rates, the starting level is not based on age or grade — in fact, to ensure that they experience success from the beginning, the starting point is typically set lower than the child’s current level in school. This helps students get accustomed to completing the daily assignments and gaining the momentum they need to advance to the more challenging work ahead.
• Advancing Step by Step — Kumon utilizes a “learn by doing” approach. The instructor assigns worksheets that provide an example illustrating a concept, followed by a simple exercise modeled after the example. Each new assignment is slightly more challenging than the last. The progression is so gradual that students are able to acquire the skills they need to advance independently.
• Speed + Accuracy = Mastery — Before a student advances from one assignment to the next, he or she must complete the material with a near perfect score within a suggested time. All of the work is graded and timed, and the results are recorded so that the instructor can determine when a child has total command of the material and is ready to move on to more difficult concepts.
• Practice Makes Perfect — According to Kumon, an assignment that takes too long to complete or is completed with too many errors demonstrates a lack of comprehension, and must be repeated. Brief periods of daily practice — achieved through take-home assignments and biweekly visits to the center — ensure optimal comprehension and retention of the concepts. The assignments help students build solid study habits and maintain skills. Practice also establishes a strong foundation for students to be able to study more advanced material.
• Realizing Each Child’s Potential — The Kumon method allows each child to advance steadily at a comfortable pace determined by the child’s ability. Instructors create an individualized program that is never compromised by the needs of a group. The first priority of Kumon instructors is to enable each and every child to perform and progress to his or her full potential. In doing so, students gain ownership of the learning process, the confidence to set progressively higher goals and the ability to perform beyond expectations.

Kumon instructors are carefully interviewed and screened, and must pass rigorous math and reading exams before qualifying for the Kumon training program. While the instructors provide guidance, praise and assistance when needed, at Kumon, students are encouraged to think for themselves. The goal of the program is to develop students’ confidence so that they will first try to solve a problem on their own before asking for help.

The Kumon program has garnered increasing attention and accolades throughout the years. For example, Entrepreneur magazine has ranked Kumon as the leading franchise in the tutoring industry for the past seven consecutive years. Over the past five years, the average Kumon Center enrollment increased 55 percent. “The hike in enrollment reconfirms Kumon’s distinct position in the marketplace,” says Deven Klein, vice president of Kumon franchising. “Parents are looking to Kumon to supplement the school curriculum and provide reinforcement of fundamental skills.”

Kumon also prides itself on being in step with developments in the education system. The National Mathematics Advisory Panel recently called for schools to focus on several “critical foundations” or benchmarks for U.S. school children. These recommendations require that by the end of the seventh grade, students should be fluent with whole numbers and fractions and proficient with geometry and measurements. Much like the Advisory Panel, Kumon’s primary focus is helping students master the basic math concepts of addition, subtraction, fractions and algebra as preparation for more rigorous math courses.

“We are pleased to see the panel acknowledge the need for building stronger math skills in American children,” says Matthew Lupsha, vice president of education services for Kumon North America. “Many high school students struggle in algebra because of their inability to master fractions earlier on. Students need mastery of basic arithmetic in order to be creative and inventive and to become leaders in the field of math and science.”

Aside from these recommendations, parents need not look at statistics or research in order to know that when they choose Kumon, their child will be enrolled in a program that provides the basis for continued growth and success. In addition to increasing confidence and self-motivation, Kumon helps children develop critical thinking and analytical skills, strengthen concentration and build problem solving skills. “Since starting Kumon, my kids have never complained about homework. They are very focused,” says Lynda Nathenson, whose two sons are enrolled at the Kumon Center in Shelton.

For more information about the Kumon program or for a list of nearby Kumon Centers,
call 877-586-6673 or visit www.kumon.com.